A Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Speech

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In 1962 an economic crisis spread over the entire nation when a major steel companies increased its prices dramatically. John F. Kennedy was in the presidency at the time and spoke to the nation regarding the urgent matter. In his speech John F. Kennedy used the rhetorical strategies of predicting, questioning, and establishing authority to achieve his purpose. As John F. Kennedy started the speech, he directed the attention onto the steel companies by predicting how the inflation of steel prices would leave the United States economy. He stressed on the fact that, “It would seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of our older citizens, and our new gains in purchasing power (line 27-31).” President Kennedy uses these predictions as tool to communicate to the steel companies the effect of inflation on the dynamic of American living and the efforts in war. With the inclusion of the war, he came across as sympathetic to the public and concerned about the …show more content…

He comments that, “when they could be exploring how more efficiently and better prices can be obtained, reducing the price in this industry… gigantic corporations have increased prices in ruthless disregard of their public responsibility (line 75-83).” President Kennedy expresses his confusion on the decisions made by the steel companies by presenting facts establishing that the steel companies unreasonably rose steel prices. President Kennedy uses this strategy as a way to put pressure on the steel companies actions. In addition, with the inclusion of a better plan to make steel companies more profitable without raise the prices, the steel companies motive come across as greed. With the relaying the facts to the nation, President Kennedy was able to expose the unjustifiable actions of the steel

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